When sending a message using Gmail, you may want use different fonts to give your message a more personal touch. Gmail allows you to select from several basic fonts while you're composing your message. If you want to use a fancier font that's not on Gmail's list, you'll have to format your text in another application and then cut and paste it into Gmail. However, if the recipient doesn't have the font installed on his computer, the text will revert to a basic format when he opens the message.

Built-in Fonts

Step 1

Log in to your Gmail account and click the "Compose" button to begin a new email message.

Step 2

Click the button with an underlined "A" at the bottom of the message window.

Step 3

Click the name of the current font to display the list of other available fonts. By default, Gmail uses the "Sans Serif" font, but you can also select from ten other common fonts. Click one of the fonts to use it.

Other Fonts

Step 1

Open a word processing application such as Microsoft Word, OpenOffice or LibreOffice. The application must use rich text formatting -- basic text editors such as Notepad and WordPad won't suffice.

Step 2

Compose all or part of your email message in the word processor and then format the text with the font of your choice.

Step 3

Log in to your Gmail account and click the "Compose" button to begin a new email message.

Step 4

Copy the formatted text from the word processor and then paste it into the body of your Gmail message. The text will retain the original font. If you place your cursor on the same line as the newly inserted text, you can begin adding to your message and your new text will maintain the same font.

Step 5

Click "Send" once the message is ready. When the recipient gets the email, the text will retain the new font as long as the font is present on the recipient's computer. Otherwise, the recipient's email program will replace the font with a generic font.

References

About the Author

Alan Sembera began writing for local newspapers in Texas and Louisiana. His professional career includes stints as a computer tech, information editor and income tax preparer. Sembera now writes full time about business and technology. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from Texas A&M University.